Leh-Absolute Himalayan Paradise

Leh at Night

Introduction:
Lying deep amidst the Himalayan mountain ranges, Leh is a high altitude desert city. At an elevation of roughly 3500 metres above sea level, Leh is one of the few high-altitude desert cities in the world. Leh gets it beauty from its arid landscape and the harsh climate which results in some genuinely amazing scenery. Getting to Leh is not for the faint-hearted however, because it lies at such a high-altitude we advise any potential visitors to acclimatise to the high altitudes of the Himalayas before proceeding to Leh. Failure to do so may result in severe mountain sickness (and possibly even Death).

Things to Do and Places to Visit:
Leh Palace/Shanti Stupa:  When at Leh, one simply must visit the Shanti Stupa and the nearby Leh Palace. The views from both these places are simply astounding and deeply relaxing. Remember to take several layers of warm clothes as it gets very cold.

Shanti Stupa (Winter)

Pangong Lake: Pangong Tso is a lake which extends for roughly 134km between India and China. Its known by locals as the place where the sky shakes hands with the earth. Words cannot do the beauty of this place justice. You must visit this place. Word of caution however, is that since this lake is at nearly 5000 metres above sea level don't spend more than 25 minutes.

Sunrise at Pangong Tso

Places to Eat: Perhaps the only major disadvantage of visiting Leh is that there are no renowned eatries-due to high altitude and severe weather especially during winter when temperatures have been recorded to dip below -20 degrees. However, with that being said Gesmo Restaurant near Leh Palace can provide a yummy meal for relatively cheap prices.

What to Try: If in Leh one should aim to have Momo's. Momo's are dishes native to Tibet and Nepal and seeing the large tibetan influence in Leh, its a dish to definitely try. Momo's are like Dumplings.

Momo

Where to Stay: The Zen Ladakh is unquestionably the place any visitors should stay. Although its a bit expensive its definitely worth it once you factor in the harsh environment.

What to Watch out For:
Weather: Because Leh is at such a high altitude one can never be too careful. Ensure to pack as many warm clothes as you can, they will come in handy. Also try to acclimatise to the surroundings before attempting any road trips or day excursions, because exertion at this altitude will lead to altitude sickness and maybe even death.

Airfare: 
Flight from Sydney to Leh (Via Delhi) for one adult as of 11th October 2017 is roughly $1312.

Overall Opinion: 
Leh, a genuine wonder city- a must visit for all travel enthusiasts. However, lack of luxury accomodation or food eateries may off-put certain visitors, because of these short-comings Leh receives a 3.5/5 star rating. However-if someone isn't worried too much about food or accomodation-this rating is revised to a 5/5 star rating.

(All info sourced from https://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/leh)

-Sargunn Sahota